Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab, Indian Premier League 2020 Match 9: As it happened

Steve Smith-led Rajasthan Royals won the toss and opted to bowl first against KL Rahul-led Kings XI Punjab in the ninth match of the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Image Credits: Twitter/@IPL

Kings XI Punjab opener Mayank Agarwal's fabulous maiden century in the Indian Premier League (IPL) went in vain as the batting efforts by the players of the Rajasthan Royals collectively saw them clinch a four-wicket win in their third clash of the ongoing 2020 season at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Asked to bat first, Agarwal not only brought up his maiden IPL hundred off just 45 deliveries but also stitched a mammoth partnership of 189 runs with skipper KL Rahul for the opening wicket to help the Punjab side post a huge total of 223/2--which is the highest total of this season so far.

In reply, third drop Sanju Samson notched up a quick-fire knock of 85 runs off just 42 balls besides stitching crucial stands of 81 and 61 runs with skipper Steve Smith (50) and Rahul Tewatia (53) to help Rajasthan Royals cross the mark with three balls to spare.

Rajasthan Royals will next lock horns with Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday, while Kings XI Punjab will face defending champions Mumbai Indians in their next IPL 2020 tie a day later.

Here are the highlights:

27 September 2020

23:08 IST

WICKET!! Robin Uthappa fell cheaply for nine after being taken by Nicholas Pooran at long-off on the first ball of the 19th over from Mohammad Shami.RR 203/4 (18.1 overs)

22:55 IST

WICKET!! Sanju Samson's impressive knock of 85 runs has come to an end as he is caught by KL Rahul behind the wicket on the first ball from Mohammed Shami in the 16th over. The Steve Smith-led side now need 51 runs from 18 balls. RR 173/3 (17 overs)

22:41 IST

Rajasthan Royals added 18 runs in the last two overs to reduced their chase to 84 runs neediing from 30 balls. Rahul Tewatia (14) went down the ground to get straight six on the fifth ball of the 15th over from Ravi Bishnoi.RR 140/2 (15 overs)

22:37 IST

FIFTY!! Sanju Samson has brought up a half-century off just 27 deliveries. He achieved the feat by diving the fourth ball from Maxwell in the 12th over to his left at long-off for two runs. It is his 12th IPL fifty. RR 122/2 (13 overs)

22:22 IST

Rajasthan Royals have added 12 runs off the last two overs. Rahul Tewatia, who is the only left-hand batsman in the line-up, has been promoted to No. 4.Meanwhile, Sanju Samson (49), who is approaching a half-century, smacked the fourth delivery from Neesham in the 11th over through extra cover for four. RR 112/2 (11 overs)

22:19 IST

WICKET!! Soon after bringing up his 10th IPL fifty off 26 balls, Rajasthan Royals skipper Steve Smith (50) was caught by Mohammad Shami at deep cover on the last ball of the ninth over from Jimmy Neesham. RR 100/2 (9 overs)

22:01 IST

Rajasthan Royals have reduced their chase to 144 runs from 78 balls after adding 25 runs in the last two overs. Skipper Steve Smith (46) is inching closer to his IPL half-century, while Sanju Samson is well-supporting him from the other end with 13-ball 25. RR 80/1 (7 overs)

21:51 IST

Good last two overs for Rajasthan Royals as they added 25 runs in it. Steve Smith (23) slogged the first ball of the fourth over from Mohammad Shami over midwicket for a maximum before he sent the third delivery of the over fine leg back for four runs.Sanju Samson (23), on the other hand, lofted the third ball from Ravi Bishnoi in the next over back over his head for six runs before he mis-hit the fifth ball over the leaping midwicket for four. RR 55/1 (5 overs)

21:42 IST

WICKET!! Sheldon Cottrell gives an early breakthrough to Kings XI Punjab. Opener Jos Buttler departs cheaply for four runs after being caught at square leg by Sarfaraz Khan. RR 30/1 (3 overs)

21:36 IST

A solid start from Rajasthan Royals as the franchise added 19 runs off the first two overs. Skipper Steve Smith (12) got off the mark with four runs by flicking the fourth ball of the first over fine of deep square leg, while Buttler (4) picked up a single on the very first ball to open his account. RR 19/0 (2 overs)

21:26 IST

Skipper Steve Smith and Jos Buttler have walked down the crease to begin Rajasthan Royals chase. Sheldon Cottrell opens the proceedings for KXIP. 

21:17 IST

Kings XI Punjab set huge 224-run target for Rajasthan Royals! KXIP 223/2 (20 overs)

20:59 IST

WICKET!! Kings XI Punjab skipper KL Rahul departed for 69 after being caught by Shreyas Gopal at the square third man boundary on the last ball of the 18th over from Ankit Rajpoot. KXIP 194/2 (18 overs)

20:56 IST

WICKET!! Soon after scoring his maiden IPL hundred, Mayank Agarwal once again looked to go for a six on the third ball of the 17th over from Tom Curran, but ended up holing out to Sanju Samson at deep midwicket. KXIP 185/1 (17 overs)

20:51 IST

CENTURY!! Mayank Agarwal is on a roll today as he has brought up his maiden IPL century off just 45 balls. The Kings XI Punjab opener achieved the feat with four runs by lofting the last ball of the 15th over from Shreyas Gopal over extra cover.KXIP 172/0 (15 overs)

20:40 IST

23 runs off the last two overs, including a six and two boundaries. Mayank Agarwal (95), who is approaching a century, lofted the third ball of the 13th over from Sheyas Gopal to clear wide long-off for a maximum. KL Rahul (58), on the other hand, sent the fourth ball of the 14th over towards square for four runs. KXIP 161/0 (14 overs)

20:31 IST

FIFTY!! Kings XI Punjab skipper KL Rahul has brought up a half-century off 35 balls. The wicketkeeper-batsman flicked the fifth ball of the 12th over from Tom Curran to mid-off to achieve the mark with a single. In the same over, Rahul pulled a short-of-a-length delivery nonchalantly over midwicket for a maximum. Agarwal, on the other hand, is standing strong at 81. KXIP 138/0 (12 overs)

20:20 IST

Kings XI Punjab have crossed the 100-run mark without the loss of any wicket.Agarwal (68) brought up his IPL fifty by clearing long-off for six runs on the second delivery of the ninth over from Shreyas Gopal.He then smacked the fourth ball of the same over clean overthe bowler's head for another six. KXIP 110/0 (10 overs)

20:08 IST

The Kings XI Punjab openers have added 27 runs in the last two overs, including two maximums and a boundary. Agarwal (48), who is approaching a half-century, hammered the second ball of the eighth over from Rahul Tewatia to deep square leg for a six before he lofted the very next ball back over the bowler's head for another maximum. He then smacked the next ball over midwicket for four more runs. KXIP 86/0 (8 overs)

20:00 IST

Openers Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul continue to stand strong at the crease at their respective scores of 29 and 26 as Kings XI Punjab have comfortable crossed the 50-run mark against Rajasthan Royals. At the end of Powerplay, KXIP are standing at 60 for the loss of no wicket.This is the highest Powerplay of this IPL so far.KXIP 60/0 (6 overs)

19:49 IST

Jaydev Unadkat and Jofra Archer bowled expensive last two overs, conceding a total of 30 runs combined. Agarwal (19) pulled a short-of-a-length ball over midwicket for four runs on the first delivery of the third over from Unadkat before he hammered the fifth ball towards the leg side for a maximum. KL Rahul then smashed KL Rahul for back-to-back three boundaries in the next over. KXIP 41/0 (4 overs)

19:41 IST

A decent start from Kings XI Punjab as they added 11 runs in their first two overs. Skipper KL Rahul (3) got off the mark by picking up a single on the first ball of the first over from Jaydev Unadkat, while Agarwal (8) too opened his account with one run on the third ball. Agarwal lofted a length ball over mid-off on the third ball of the second over from Ankit Rajpoot for the first maximum of the match. KXIP 11/0 (2 overs)

19:28 IST

KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal have walked down the crease to begin Kings XI Punjab's innings.Jaydev Unadkat has the new ball in hand.

19:15 IST

LINEUPS:

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI):

Jos Buttler, Steven Smith(c), Sanju Samson(w), Robin Uthappa, Rahul Tewatia, Riyan Parag, Tom Curran, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Ankit Rajpoot

Kings XI Punjab (Playing XI):

Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul(c), Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, James Neesham, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Sheldon Cottrell

19:13 IST

 Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have made two changes in their Playing XI. Jos Buttler and Ankit Rajpoot replace Yash Jaiswal and David Miller, respectively.

19:11 IST

Kings XI Punjab have made no change in their Playing XI for their clash against Rajasthan Royals. This means, no Chris Gayle for this match.

19:08 IST

Rajasthan Royals win toss, opt to bowl against Kings XI Punjab. 

Steve Smith has won the toss and #RR will bowl first in Match 9 of #Dream11IPL.#RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/XXSqoCx2HY

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 27, 2020

18:59 IST

The toss for the RR vs KXIP clash will take place shortly !